Let’s be clear: Anderlecht won last night’s the game because they won the tactical battle. (I have not watched this back, so forgive me if there’s a few seconds error) 55 seconds into the game Anderlecht had a 50 second period of unbroken possession, most of it in our half. We knew that early the visitors had an inappropriate levels of time and options.
By contrast, when Celtic got possession, we lacked options. Midfielders and full backs were faced with unattractive choices throughout the night. The familiar triangular patterns we have watched for 18 months existed only in fleeting moments.
Brendan twice tried to change things: initially by pulling Sinclair into the middle, pushing Armstrong left, and then by hooking these two at halftime, and introducing Ntcham and Rogic. The changes at the interval gave Celtic more presence in the centre of the field, but not enough to transform a rank bad performance.
Did you notice we didn’t press in the Anderlecht half? Out of possession, our three at the back became a flat back five as the full backs dropped deep. As a consequence, we allowed Anderlecht time to circulate the ball and build a move. Anderlecht are not a good team (few would get into the Celtic team), so they were unable to win by the necessary margin, but from 55 seconds in, it was evident the Belgians were in command of the most valuable asset in a game: space. Celtic tactics were wrong.
Let me touch on the players for a second, because they were mentioned post-match by Brendan. We watched this same squad stride imperiously around a pitch in Brussels in September. And, with one of two additions, our Invincibles were a European embarrassment under Ronny Deila. Don’t try to kid me these were bad players, who became Invincibles under Brendan, were magnificent in Brussels, but are not good enough for this level now.
This type of thinking is a fallacy. It’s all about the team, not individuals.
We were tactically masterful at Anderlecht, and I suspect did as well as we could have in both games against Bayern Munich. However, we were tactically atrocious in both games against PSG and at home to an Anderlecht, who were on the precipice of becoming the worst team in Champions League history. This is so self-evidently clear I think we are close to some form of group delusion if we don’t acknowledge the fact, and instead look for scapegoats in hoops.
Jim Craig on CQN TONIGHT!!!
Lisbon Lion, Jim Craig, will be on the blog for a chat tonight from around 18:30. Jim has seen it all in his >50 year connection to the club, so tune in and share your thoughts with him.
You can order a signed copy now at CQNBookstore.co.uk and if you would like a personal dedication added just drop an email after placing your order to david@cqnpublishing.co.uk and we’ll get Jim to sort this evening.
All pre-ordered books will be posted first thing Thursday morning.
*JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, THE LISBON LION DIARY is published this week by CQN Books. You still have time to get a SIGNED copy by ordering at www.cqnbookstore.co.uk and if you would like a personal dedication added to your book by Jim then simply email your massage to david@cqnpublishing.co.uk after ordering and we’ll do the rest!
The book arrives on Wednesday and it is sensational! And if you haven’t done so already, listen to Jim Craig on the CQN Podcast below.
You will love it!
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Tim Reaper…the night can only go down as a disappointment but the reality is that we are now in the Europea League…lets hope for a decent draw
Hi Jim- thanks for all you helped us achieve, who was the best player you played with and against?
Hello Jim.
Thanks for your Greenock Celtic gig during the summer. Quite excellent so you were.
Bada Bing…best player with is quite difficult as there were a few….I always though that when Bobby Murdoch was on song, the whole team played well…as for opponents, there were a few, like Gento, Capellini, Prati and Dzadzic but Willie Johnston was hard to play against
Hi Jim,
Lots of CQN’rs visited Estadio Nacional back in May even some that were there on the day.
Have you revisited the scene of your greatest triumph and did you get a great vibe, like the
supporters?
Saint Stivs…thanks for that…it was a great night for me and I was very grateful to the Greenock supporters for making me so welcome…hope to be back soon
My main concern about last nights performance was when you watch our players about to pass the ball it is generally quite obvious where it is going. We then pass with very little power giving the chance of an interception. We seem to lack the ability to quickly and accurately pass crossfield to someone in space (I would say with the exception of KT). How many times last night were we forced from the half way line back to CG for him to clear? I am certainly not advocating punting the ball out of defence but we do have to alternate our style of play or change how we plat it out from the back to give the opposition some thing to think about.
This came up on the blog watching the youth PSG squad and the power and pace the were passing to each other. They didn’t always control it first time but they kept at it.
Hi Jim,
Hope you are well.
Firstly, a huge thank you to yourself and your team-mates for all you have done for our great club.
Can I ask, if you could take one of the Lions and put him into the current team, who do you think would make the biggest difference and why?
Thanks Jim- HH
Sorry shouldn’t have posted above didn’t realise Jim was on.
Jim do think European players have a better technique than Scottish/British players and if so why?
bournesouprecipe…yes I have been back a couple of times recently and as you say, the goose-bumps come into play…and when I look up behind one of the goals I can recall my late Father sitting up there…turning to my Uncle Philip when I was accused of giving away that penalty and saying “I have come all this way to see that!”
Hello Jim,
Thank you for the memories that you and the rest of the Lions gave to us supporters.
What is your most abiding memory of the Lisbon final?
HH
GLASSTWO THIRDS FULL…thank you for the nice words and the easy question…I think possibly Big Billy could make a considerable difference to the defence
Great news BSR, & Thanks for everything.
Re the game last night, first half was a disaster, I don’t know what has happened Stuart Armstrong, but he looks a shadow of last year’s player & Sinky has lost his mojo as well.
Second half was a big improvement but in the end it was another home defeat and yes that is really disappointing.
There was plenty of effort & we seemed unsure whether to go & try to win or draw the game or just close it out, take a narrow defeat & be satisfied with Europa progression.
I think we lost individual battles all over the field, Moussa was knocking balls back to the midfield but it was Anderlecht were getting possession from the knock backs, nervousness & doubt spread & defenders started to hoof it upfield which of course just led to further attacks.
However as always there were 2 teams on the pitch and as well as being critical of our own we need to acknowledge that Anderlecht are a decent side, they played well last night as indeed they did against Bayern in previous game.
However they are out of Europe & we are still in there.
Brendan does have a job to do before next round but immediate priority is to win League, we have a rash of games coming up so lets concentrate on these & shelve Europe for the while.
I’m in agreement with Paul, Celtic for some strange reason stood off Anderlecht and allowed them the freedom of the park to build attacks with quick one touch passing moves and perhaps if Craig Gordon had not made those couple of early brilliant saves we may not have been heading into the Europa league. Paul is wrong however about our imperious form in Belgium – Celtic were simply crap in the first half in that game as indeed were the Belgians.
With teams like Anderlecht, Bruge, Standard Liege and Genk the Belgian premier division is a lot more competitive than the SPFL with last night’s opponents figuring in third place. They were determined to get some points on the board in the Champions League which they achieved’
Brendan has done wonders since his arrival at the club but he is also learning his trade to compete on the European stage. In his time with Liverpool and Celtic he has been involved in 18 Champions League games only winning two against Ludogorets and Anderlecht. Liverpool were also knocked out by Besiktas in the first round of the Europa League.
Sorry from me as well, didn’t realize a legend was on.
Jim Craig
Do you think that Brendan can improve our Euro performances through his ability as a coach or do you think quality additions to the first team need to be made? If so which positions need to be improved as I think the midfield Broonie being the exception is weak.
Thanks Jim
Good evening Mr Craig.
Over the last few days various folk have been predicting that a severe storm is about to hit Scotland on Thursday and Friday. Do you agree that rather than make predictions, we would be much better seeing what happens and then simply REPORT on that?
Having said that – what’s your prediction for the back 5 for Sunday.
Thank you very much Jim
Hail Hail
Jim.
Firstly thanks for the great memories.
It’s not mentioned as often as it should be, in my opinion, you scored in a cup final, every school bhoys dream.
How great a feeling was that?
Was it up there with other great memories or was it all about winning. :-))
Hail Hail
Jim Craig
Thank you for the reply. Hard to argue with that.
Sorry for posting, as the great Jim Craig is on.
Who is this bloody Craig fella who has come on here tonight to dominate the blog.
Anyone ever heard of him before now???
YORKBHOY…..sorry…I was watching myself on Reporting Scotland……it all looks sometimes that foreign players have a better technique than the Scots but I wonder?….is that true…certainly the weather conditions in certain parts of Europe are better for training etc… they have some sunshine while we shiver in the wet…is it not about time that every Scottish region should have indoor arenas where our youngsters can practice in relative comfort?
Corkcelt
I’ll email you to thank you and emphasise your spirit of Walfrid and Paul’s vision of CQN where you paid Celtic and also contributed very generously to charity.
Just to see Celtic CSC
We weren’t very good last night, were we.
That’s not a question for Mr Craig, btw. Just my expert opinion on our performance.
Not buying the analysis in the article.
The tactics were newish but the application was terrible.
I thought we lined up with a flat MF trio.= 4 – 3 – 2 – 1
With JF providing more cover on the RW than ScS on the left.
When we played it narrow at the back their RW revelled in the space.
When we went wide they worked the IR channel — simples to the point of boring to watch.
Our MF did nothing for us apart from proving WGS knows more than we give him credit for.
They were terrible — if one stepped up the gap was not closed by the others and Anderlecht just worked the space left behind.
SA — shockingly bad, just didn’t to be engaged at any level.
SB — was more effective but he is not a CDM at that level. VW sets the standard and he was nowhere near it.
CMcG — limited player playing well within himself, not at the races.
Anderlecht are a limited team — out of their depth in the CL.
We just made them look like world beaters.
Their lack of real quality saved us from humiliation.
So interested in the point being made that it was all down to tactics.
That points the finger at BR and an inability to set the team up right — on the park and in the tunnel.
Very much a counterpoint to BR’s comments about the players not playing to the required level.
Not sure if that backs up my view that the Scottish cringe has played a part this season.
Stage 1 — We do not realise how good we are and how good we could be.
Stage 2 — We take the easy way out when times get tough because we have limited self belief.
Iceland had the same problem and one guy decided that enough was enough…now look at them…not only did they reach the European Championship finals but the World Cup finals too
ONEMALLOY……I have several…firstly coming up the stairs into the arena and seeing the number of Celtic strips in the crowd…then there was the penalty, one of the worst decisions ever in football…and then laying on the pass for Tam G to equalize… what a great day!
Jim is typing away answering questions. If anyone wants to order a signed book it’s available at cqnbookstore.co.uk and if you want a personal dedication added email me before 8pm this evening and Jim will do it straight away and the book will be posted with all the others tomorrow morning.
Email is david@cqnpublishing.co.uk
Hi Jim
Its good to have all those memories that our generation shared on the record from an eye witness.
Two Qs.
1. On technique is time spent with the ball not the best teacher? I played every night in the summer in the street or school yards and three times at the weekends on Glasgow pitches. Then there was schools football to fill in the gaps. Better facilities would help but how do we get the kids to use them?
2. You are asked to describe Scottish football in terms of a fruit and veg.
Would you say its a leek
or
a banana? ;)
JIM CRAIG
Do you or did you ever have a fear of going to the Dentist ..since they’re all Masochists .
Never trust a Smiling Dentist!!
Evil ,evil people …imho.
You were no a bad player btw .
Sincere thanks to you and the rest of the squads for giving us such memories .
DESSYBHOY……Brendan HAS to improve the performances of his team on nights like that…the midfield was not great last night and I think we can sometimes be less than impressive in the centre of the defence too….but none of them are insurmountable….just some hard work is required by all …and let’s hope we can get some better competition in our national league……we are in Europe after Christmas….the rest were out in the early rounds
Hi Mr. Craig
2 questions.
1. What is your biggest regret?
2. Do you still practice dentistry? I need an implant.
JC — interesting point about Iceland and how they have improved things.
Planning / working without ego / rooting out the local worthies and the jobsworths.
Although to be fair Iceland had so little to start with they probably didn’t exist.
Currently doing the dad tour around the various football pitch complexes in and around East Dumbartonshire following the boy and his team of happy hoofers / hair style aficionados.
You cannot help but notice the rundown nature of almost all the pitches — waterlogged pitches in August was only the start — but also notice the quality of the premium brand vehicles bringing the players to the games.
Private affluence / public squalor would be one way of viewing it.
Plus the fact that the pub team gets AstroTurf pitch and the boys are on the grass that would raise eyebrows in egg chasing circles it was so long.
Then there is the behaviour of the adults playing the game that shames the game and offers no leadership or good example to the boys in close proximity.
BADA BING I trust the weather girls – and boys – to get the weather report right and I also think that Brendan is the man to do the same with the team
On a serious note I would like to thank Jim for all he has done for Celtic and for taking the time to talk to us eejits
Seems like a thorough gentleman also….
Good evening Jim
Scottish referees are the bane of my and many others life.
Question is, why is there not any effort to reform the refereeing fraternity in scotland,
They are cheats, end of, Mr Stein once said that score more than the oppo to take the referees out of the equation, sadly one of the worst things he said IMO, it’s 2017 Jim and they are still cheating, it’s a very, very sad state of affairs
HH